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Friday, January 15, 1999 Dear SQL Server Professionals, The purpose of this message is to provide you with the latest information about the Heartland Users Groups' SQL Server SIG. This e-mail message was sent to you as a "blind copy" to protect your privacy. Please feel free to forward this message on to whomever you feel may have an interest in the Heartland Users Groups and/or the SQL Server SIG. If you wish to be removed from this e-mail list simply send a reply to this message and indicate so. RECAP OF JANUARY 1999 SQL SERVER SIG MEETING ************************************************************ The January SQL Server SIG meeting was held on Thursday, January 7, 1999 at 6:00 PM at the offices of Solutech, Inc. in Overland Park, Kansas. Lori Bird of Platinum Technology presented and demonstrated Platinum's ERwin data modeling tool. ERwin is a database design tool that greatly enhances the productivity of DBAs and database developers. Lori demonstrated the relative ease with which ERwin allows database developers to design, implement, and modify a database design. Lori showed us how ERwin helps the database designer visualize the proper structure, key elements, and design of a database. ERwin automatically generates tables and stored procedure and trigger codes and uses "complete-compare" technology which keeps the model synchronized with the database. Perhaps the greatest benefit of ERwin is that it ensures consistency, reuse, and integration of enterprise data by providing the development team with a "blueprint" for understanding, analyzing, and communicating database structures. ERwin runs under the following desktop client environments: Windows NT, Windows 95, and Windows 98. In addition to Microsoft SQL Server, ERwin supports the following major database management systems: CA-Clipper, CA-OpenIngres, DB2 for MVS and DB2 for OS/390, DB2/400, dBASE, FoxPro, HiRDB, Informix, InterBase, Microsoft Access, Oracle, Paradox, Rdb, Red Brick Warehouse, SAS, SQL Anywhere, SQLBase, Sybase, and Teradata. Lori also shared information about Platinum's other enterprise modeling products, including ModelMart, BPwin, ParadigmPlus, and SQL Compass. ModelMart is a central repository for database models that facilitates sharing data models across an organization. ModelMart is instrumental in establishing corporate modeling standards because it provides an effective framework for designers to collaborate on modeling projects without encroaching on each other's work. This is done by storing the data models in a database and by employing a sophisticated security framework that allows data models to be "checked in" and "checked out". BPwin is a business process modeling tool that facilitates the analysis, documentation, and ultimately the improvement of complex business processes. BPwin automates the capture, validation, analysis, and optimization of business or IT processes. BPwin lets you document important factors such as what activities are needed, how they are performed, and what resources are needed. Another tool, ParadigmPlus Plus, helps out with component modeling and assists developers to design and visualize complex applications. Paradigm Plus supports component software development tools such as Java, Microsoft Visual Studio 98, PLATINUM Aion, Forte, and PowerBuilder. Finally, SQL Compass, a new product, helps developers keep their database applications in synch with database changes. Platinum Technology's web site is at http://www.platinum.com . Special thanks to Lori for braving the weather and traveling from Dayton, Ohio to be our presenter. Also, thanks to Mike Mizell and the rest of the Platinum Technology crew for making the arrangements for Lori to be our speaker. Thanks also to Jan Brandt and the folks at Solutech, Inc. for providing the facilities and snacks for our meeting. NEXT SQL SERVER SIG MEETING: 02/04/1999 ************************************************************ The SQL Server SIG meeting will be held on Thursday, February 4, 1999 at 6:00 PM. This meeting will be hosted at the offices of Solutech, Inc. located in the Lighton Plaza at 7300 College BLVD, Suite 165, Overland Park, KS. Solutech's offices are on the first floor, and parking in the building lot is FREE. David Banks will giving a presentation about how enterprise decision support tools provide non-technical business users with access to information stored in various types of database-driven systems, including data warehouses, data marts, and packaged business applications. David is an Account Manager for Business Objects, which is the world's leading provider of integrated enterprise decision support tools. Please feel free to print out and distribute copies of the flyer for this meeting. The flyer is located at http://home.gvi.net/~spyder/sqlflyer.html . UPGRADING SQL SERVER 4.21 AND OTHER DINOSAURS ***************************************************************** Please note that you cannot directly upgrade SQL Server 4.21 and earlier versions to SQL Server 7.0. You must first upgrade the pre-6.x server to SQL Server 6.0 or SQL Server 6.5. The recommended path is to first upgrade the pre-6.x server to SQL Server 6.5 with Service Pack 5 and then upgrade to SQL Server 7.0. UPCOMING EVENTS ***************************************************************** All Heartland Users Groups meetings are open to the general public. Anyone may attend any of the various monthly SIG meetings and the HUG general meeting. If you are not already a member of the Heartland Users Groups, please consider joining -- an individual membership is only $25.00. Just ask the SIG leader or any Heartland Users Groups officer for a membership form. Your membership entitles you to receive the monthly newsletter and makes you eligible to receive door prizes at Heartland Users Groups events. Thursday, February 4, 1999 at 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM SQL Server SIG -- Business Objects presentation about decision support tools At Solutech Inc. 7300 College BLVD, Suite 165 Overland Park, KS See http://home.gvi.net/~spyder/sqlserver.html for details Thursday, March 4, 1999 at 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Monthly SQL Server SIG Meeting SQL Server 7.0 Tips and Tricks; presented by Chris Miller, author of the new book SQL Server System Administration (The Landmark Series) from MacMillan Publishing Company At Solutech Inc. 7300 College BLVD, Suite 165 Overland Park, KS See http://home.gvi.net/~spyder/sqlserver.html for details Thursday, April 1, 1999 at 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Monthly SQL Server SIG Meeting Topic and speaker TBA At Solutech Inc. 7300 College BLVD, Suite 165 Overland Park, KS See http://home.gvi.net/~spyder/sqlserver.html for details MICROSOFT NEWS ************************************************************ See http://www.microsoft.com/mcp/certstep/mcdba.htm for details about Microsoft's new Database Administrator certification program. Exams and courseware for this new track are expected to be available by the first quarter of 1999. Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 Overview: This is the one-day course that Microsoft is offering for $99. See http://www.microsoft.com/train_cert/sql7/oneday/ for details. Get a voucher worth $500 towards the 5-day System Administration for Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 course (course #832). See http://www.microsoft.com/train_cert/sql7/offer for details. SQL SERVER JOB OPPORTUNITY ************************************************** The Maxim Group is looking for a SQL Server DBA to work for a client located in Lenexa, Kansas. The assignment duration is 6 months to permanent (the duration is up to the person hired). The job function is to support an internal tracking system and to lead the organization's drive into SQL Server. The client plans to migrate Oracle and Peoplesoft into SQL Server and has a total of nine servers. This position is a lead-type role that requires good communication skills and will involve communicating with end users and hiring additional people. Technical requirements are at least 2 years experience as a SQL Server DBA. Experience with Oracle or Peoplesoft is a plus but not required. The client site is a business-casual team-oriented environment. Salary range is $55k to $85k. Interested parties should contact Brad Hill of The Maxim Group by phone at 913.664.0130 or by email: mailto:brhill@maximgroup.com . SQL SERVER JOB OPPORTUNITY ************************************************** InterDirect, Inc. (IDI), a rapidly expanding web-based application development firm, is looking for people to join their core team. Cutting edge work plus the opportunity to benefit from their success through ownership. They are looking for intelligent, hard-working partners in a relaxed environment who want to be in on the ground floor of a growing company. They are currently seeking an experienced SQL Sever DBA to join their team. Technical requirements are a minimum of four years experience in SQL Server, database design, security, operations, and programming. Experience with Cold Fusion and Javascript a plus. Salary is commensurate with experience. Interested parties are encouraged to e-mail resumes to mailto:cmeiers@idiservices.com or by US mail to: IDI, 11644 West 75th Street, Suite 104, Shawnee, Kansas, 66214. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS ************************************************************ The SQL Server SIG board is looking volunteers to be presenters for future SQL Server SIG meetings. If you or someone you know is interested in presenting a topic of interest to SQL Server professionals, please contact me or any other SQL Server SIG officer. In particular, we are actively looking for a presenter and topic for our April 1, 1999 meeting. The regular meeting time for monthly SQL Server SIG meetings is 6:00 PM on the first Thursday of each month at Solutech, Inc., 7300 College BLVD, Suite 165, Overland Park, KS. The SQL Server SIG's home page is at: http://home.gvi.net/~spyder/sqlserver.html . Please feel free to offer any ideas for improving the SQL Server SIG's page or for adding any links. The Heartland Users Groups' home page is at: http://www.hugkc.org . Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, criticisms, and/or referrals of persons who may be potentially interested in the SQL Server SIG.